The Canadian Immigrant Labour Market in 2006: Analysis by Region or Country of Birth

Transcription

1 Catalogue no X ISSN ISBN Research Paper The Immigrant Labour Force Analysis Series The Canadian Immigrant Labour Market in 2006: Analysis by Region or Country of Birth By Jason Gilmore Labour Statistics Divison 7th floor, Jean-Talon Building, Ottawa, K1A 0T6 Telephone:

2 How to obtain more information Specific inquiries about this product and related statistics or services should be directed to: Labour Force Survey Program, Labour Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6 (telephone: , toll free number: , fax: or by address: For information about this product or the wide range of services and data available from Statistics Canada, visit our website at or contact us by at or by telephone from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday: Statistics Canada National Contact Centre Toll-free telephone (Canada and the United States): Inquiries line National telecommunications device for the hearing impaired Fax line Local or international calls: Inquiries line Fax line Depository services program Inquiries line Fax line Information to access the product This product, Catalogue no X, is available for free in electronic format. To obtain a single issue, visit our website at and select Publications. Standards of service to the public Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients. To obtain a copy of these service standards, please contact Statistics Canada toll free at The service standards are also published on under About us > Providing services to Canadians.

3 Statistics Canada Labour Statistics Divison The Immigrant Labour Force Analysis Series The Canadian Immigrant Labour Market in 2006: Analysis by Region or Country of Birth Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada Minister of Industry, 2008 All rights reserved. The content of this electronic publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, and by any means, without further permission from Statistics Canada, subject to the following conditions: that it be done solely for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review or newspaper summary, and/or for non-commercial purposes; and that Statistics Canada be fully acknowledged as follows: Source (or Adapted from, if appropriate): Statistics Canada, year of publication, name of product, catalogue number, volume and issue numbers, reference period and page(s). Otherwise, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means electronic, mechanical or photocopy or for any purposes without prior written permission of Licensing Services, Client Services Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0T6. February 2008 Catalogue no X ISBN: Frequency : Occasional Ottawa Cette publication est aussi disponible en français (n o XIF au catalogue). Note of appreciation Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued cooperation and goodwill.

4 Acknowledgements This report on the immigrant labour market in Canada using results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) was made possible through a partnership with Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Statistics Canada (STC). I would personally like to thank all those who contributed to this release, including: the LFS operations, processing and system team, the LFS client services team, and my fellow analysts. The input and support by staff in other STC divisions, specifically: Methodology, Communications (including those at the Regional Offices) and Dissemination, is also much appreciated. Of course I also appreciated the support, insight and constructive criticism of my managers. I would also like to thank the group of STC, CIC and HRSDC researchers, managers and analysts for their critical review of this report. Last but certainly not least, Statistics Canada would like to acknowledge the most important contributors to this report the respondents to the surveys used in the publication. Our sincere gratitude is extended to these respondents. This report would not have been possible without their co-operation. 4 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

5 Table of contents Page Executive summary 6 Background 9 Section 1 - Introduction and definitions: Region or country of birth 10 Section 2 - Immigrant labour market outcomes, by region of birth 13 Section 3 - Immigrant labour market outcomes by region of birth and sex 19 Section 4 - Immigrant labour market outcomes, by region of birth and selected provinces 23 Section 5 - Immigrant labour market outcomes of youth and older Canadians, by region of birth 28 Conclusion 30 Appendix A - Detailed hierarchy of regions and countries of birth 31 Appendix B - Detailed tables 34 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

6 Executive summary This study assessed the labour force situation for immigrants at three stages: very recent immigrants, who had landed between 2001 and 2006; recent immigrants, who had landed between 1996 and 2001; and established immigrants, who had been in Canada more than 10 years. Immigrants born in Southeast Asia, particularly those from the Philippines, had the strongest labour market performance of all immigrants to Canada in 2006, regardless of when they landed in the country, according to a new study. The study found that in 2006, many very recent immigrants in the core working-age group, aged 25 to 54, had experienced more difficulties in the labour market than the Canadian born, regardless of their region of birth. Among very recent immigrants, only those born in Southeast Asia had unemployment rates, employment rates and participation rates that were more or less on par with the core working-age Canadian-born population. Those born elsewhere in Asia (including the Middle East) as well as individuals born in Latin America, Europe and Africa all had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates in 2006 than their Canadian-born counterparts. Working-age immigrants born in Europe had 2006 labour market outcomes that were similar to the Canadian born, but this was the case mainly for recent and established immigrants. Immigrants born in Africa experienced difficulties in the labour market, regardless of when they had landed. The estimated 70,000 very recent African-born immigrants had an unemployment rate of 20.8%, more than four times higher than that of the Canadian born. Countries of birth for immigrants to Canada have changed over the past few decades, shifting most notably in the mid- 1980s from mainly European toward more Asian. Asian-born immigrants largest group to settle in Canada Regardless of period of landing, people born in Asia (including the Middle East) were the largest group of immigrants that had settled in Canada as of Many were born in the People s Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Iran or Pakistan. For all Asians aged 25 to 54, their employment rate was much weaker than that of the Canadian born, especially among very recent immigrants. Their employment rate was only 63.8%, compared with 83.1% for their counterparts born in Canada. However, for all three periods of landing covered by this study, immigrants in this age group who were born in Southeast Asia had labour market outcomes that were close to or better than those of the Canadian born. Within Southeast Asia, both men and women born in the Philippines had particularly strong results. In fact, Filipino-born very recent immigrants had an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which was only slightly higher than that of the Canadian born (4.9%). Immigrants born in Europe Despite being a declining proportion of immigrants aged 25 to 54, those born in Europe still represented the second-largest source region of all immigrants in Many came from the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Portugal or Romania. As with most other regions, very recent immigrants born in Europe had higher unemployment rates than the Canadian born. Their unemployment rate was 8.4%, above the average (4.9%) of people born in Canada. Established immigrants born in Europe had a 2006 employment rate of 83.9%, slightly higher than that of the Canadian born. This group represented 33% of all established immigrants aged 25 to 54. In addition, unemployment rates for established immigrants born in the United Kingdom and Portugal were much lower than those of their Canadian-born counterparts. Immigrants born in Latin America In 2006, as with almost all other regions, very recent immigrants of core working age born in Latin America had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates than the Canadian born. More specifically, their unemployment rate was 2.1 times higher than their Canadian-born counterparts. For both the recent and established immigrants, unemployment and employment rates were close to those of the Canadian born. Immigrants born in Africa For immigrants of core working age who were born in Africa, they had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates compared with the Canadian born and with some other regions of birth, no matter what period they had landed. 6 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

7 Chart 1.1 Unemployment rate for immigrants aged 25 to 54, by region of birth and landing period, 2006 age North America (U.S.A.)¹ Latin America Europe Africa Asia Very recent Recent Established Canadian born 1. Data for very recent and recent immigrants suppressed because of coefficient of variation (CV) >33.3% and/or very small estimates. For example, the estimated 70,000 African-born very recent immigrants had an unemployment rate that was more than four times higher than that of their Canadian-born counterparts. They also posted lower employment rates. The story was not any better when looking at the regions within Africa both those born in eastern Africa and northern Africa had unemployment rates that were over four times higher than that of their Canadian-born peers. Immigrant men more likely to be working than immigrant women In general, immigrant men of core working age were more likely than their female counterparts to be participating in the Canadian labour market. In particular, European-born men aged 25 to 54 had labour market outcomes either similar to or better than those of Canadian-born men, no matter when they landed in Canada. Established European-born men had labour market outcomes that were better than those of the Canadian born. The study found a greater disparity between immigrant and Canadian-born women in Unemployment was high for almost all immigrant women, regardless of where they were born and when they landed in Canada. This issue was particularly pronounced for very recent arrivals: in 2006, their unemployment rate was 2.8 times higher, and their participation and employment rates significantly lower, than those of Canadian-born women. Young very recent immigrants had high unemployment rates Young very recent immigrants aged 15 to 24 had unemployment rates in 2006 that were higher and employment rates that were lower than their Canadian-born counterparts, no matter in which region they were born. However, they also had comparatively higher school attendance. Young recent and established immigrants born in Europe were as likely as Canadian-born youth to be either employed or unemployed. Most older immigrants were born in Europe, Asia The study also examined older workers. In 2006, Canada had about 2.1 million immigrants aged 55 and over, the vast majority of whom (93%) were established immigrants. In fact, most had landed here before Most of these older immigrants were born in two regions: Europe (59%) or Asia (25%). Among these older workers, established immigrants born in Asia were much more likely to be unemployed in 2006 than their Canadian-born counterparts. However, all older established immigrants, regardless of region of birth, had unemployment rates in 2006 that were similar to or lower than those of the Canadian born. Statistics Canada Catalogue no

8 Provinces: Vast majority settled in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec Because the vast majority of immigrants settle in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, the analysis focused on these provinces. In Ontario, Asian- and African-born immigrants aged 25 to 54, regardless of time since landing, had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates than the Canadian born. Recent and established immigrants born in Europe and Latin America had labour market outcomes similar to those of Canadian-born workers in Ontario. In British Columbia, Asian-born and European-born recent and established immigrants had 2006 labour market outcomes that were comparable to those of Canadian-born British Columbians. In Quebec, very recent and recent immigrants born in Latin America, Asia and Africa had 2006 unemployment rates two to four times higher than that of Canadian-born Quebeckers. Recent and established immigrants born in Europe had unemployment rates that were not much different from that of their Canadian-born counterparts. 8 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

9 Background The first report on immigrants in the labour force, based on 2006 Labour Force Survey data, was released in September The particular focus of this paper was on landed immigrants aged 25 to 54 referred to as the core working age. The results of this paper revealed that established immigrants those who had landed in Canada before 1996 of core working age had labour market outcomes that closely resembled those of their Canadian-born counterparts. Very recent immigrants those who had landed from 2001 to 2006 had the most difficulty in the labour market in 2006, followed by recent immigrants those who had landed from 1996 to Some of the other general findings from the first report include the following: In 2006, the Canadian labour market was the strongest it had been in 30 years. For the Canadian population (including immigrants) of core working age, the unemployment rate was the lowest since The unemployment rate for women of core working age was at an all-time low, and the employment rate was at an all-time high. For men of core working age, the unemployment rate was its lowest since 1981, and the employment rate was its highest since Immigrant women of core working age had much higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates than both immigrant men and Canadian-born women, regardless of how long they had been in Canada. Immigrants living in Alberta benefited from a strong provincial labour market in Very recent immigrants in Alberta had the lowest unemployment rates among their counterparts in the other provinces. Immigrants in Quebec, however, no matter when they landed, experienced higher unemployment rates in 2006 than Canadian-born Quebeckers. The vast majority of Canada s immigrants lived in Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal in Montréal reported lower employment rates in 2006 for all residents compared with Toronto or Vancouver. Of these three census metropolitan areas, Montréal s immigrants also had the most pronounced differences between their labour market outcomes and those of the Canadian born; those living in Toronto had the least. In 2006, immigrants were more likely to have a university education than the Canadian born. However, while unemployment rates for Canadian born were lower for progressively higher levels of education, the rates for very recent immigrants varied little by education. The unemployment rate gap was narrower between recent immigrants and the Canadian born. In 2006, immigrant youth (aged 15 to 24) had higher unemployment rates compared with Canadian-born youth. This was particularly true for very recent immigrant youth. The unemployment rate for young immigrant women was much higher than that of young Canadian-born women. The rates of unemployment and employment for established immigrant men aged 55 and older were about the same as for Canadian-born men in the same age bracket. Older, established immigrant women, however, were slightly more likely to be unemployed in 2006 compared with their Canadian-born counterparts. This second report builds on the findings from the original report and asks a key question: how well did immigrants from specific regions or countries of birth fare in the Canadian labour market in 2006? A third report, to be released in the spring of 2008, will analyse the relationship between the region where an immigrant received postsecondary education and his or her labour market outcomes. A final report, to be released in the fall of 2008, will examine the quality of immigrant employment in Canada. Please refer to the first report ( XIE ) for more details. Statistics Canada Catalogue no

10 Section 1 Introduction and definitions: Region or country of birth This paper, the second in a series of analytical articles on immigrants in the labour force, explores the relationship among immigrants region or country of birth, their period of landing in Canada, and their labour market outcomes in Immigration data from the Labour Force Survey Beginning in January 2006, five additional questions were added to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to identify immigrants and to determine when they landed in Canada (year and month for those landing within the previous five years), and the country in which they received their highest level of educational attainment greater than high school. The questions are as follows: In what country was... born? Is now, or has he/she ever been, a landed immigrant in Canada? In what year did first become a landed immigrant? In what month? In what country did complete his/her highest degree, certificate or diploma? Since these questions are in the LFS every month, analysts and researchers now have a continuous data series they can use to monitor immigration employment patterns and trends. Framework of factors related to a Canadian immigrant s labour market outcomes The difficulties that immigrants to Canada face in finding employment, particularly those who have landed more recently, are often associated with several factors, including recognition of foreign credentials differences in education levels degree and length of experience abroad and within Canada differences in quality of education in some countries language barriers and difficulties varying strength of social networks knowledge of and information about the Canadian labour market. 1,2,3,4 The overarching factor is time the more time that an immigrant spends in Canada, the more likely he or she will be able to address some or all of the difficulties mentioned above, and therefore increase his or her chances of obtaining employment. Other factors, such as the state of the economy during a particular period of landing, can also magnify or diminish the capacity of immigrants to address the above-mentioned factors. While the Labour Force Survey (LFS) is not a longitudinal survey and cannot differentiate between cause and effect, it can provide a less direct approach to this factor by using the concept of period of landing. This series of papers on immigrants in the labour force examines the data available with this framework in mind, while recognizing that many of these factors cannot be addressed within the scope of the LFS. 1. Galarneau, Diane and René Morissette Immigrants: Settling for less? Perspectives on Labour and Income. Vol. 5, no. 6. Statistics Canada Catalogue no XIE. p (accessed January 22, 2008). 2. Green, David A. and Christopher Worswick Earnings of Immigrant Men in Canada: The Roles of Labour Market Entry Effects and Returns to Foreign Experience. Paper prepared for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Vancouver, British Columbia. University of British Columbia. 3. Sweetman, Arthur Immigrant Source Country Education Quality and Canadian Labour Market Outcomes. Kingston, Ontario. Queen s University, School of Policy Studies. 4. Chui, Tina and Kelly Tran Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada: Progress and Challenges of New Immigrants in the Workforce. Statistics Canada Catalogue no XIE. Ottawa. (accessed January 22, 2008). 10 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

11 A number of articles have investigated some of the associations between immigrants origins and their labour market outcomes, particularly for immigrants to Canada. For example, some studies point to the successes of American and European immigrants in Canada s labour market, especially established immigrants, who have been in Canada for 10 years or more, while immigrants from other regions who have landed more recently struggle in this market. 5,6,7 Based on data collected by the Labour Force Survey in 2006, this paper focuses on the labour market outcomes for immigrants of core working age, since this age group is more likely to have completed school and be available for fulltime work and less likely to have entered retirement. The report begins with an analysis of the labour market outcomes of immigrants of core working age by region or country of birth at the national level. Outcomes by province and by sex are then explored. An analysis of the labour market outcomes for immigrant youth (aged 15 to 24) and immigrants aged 55 and older by region or country of birth follows. What are the regions of birth? In this report, every country is assigned to a lower-level region (e.g., United Kingdom is part of Northern Europe ), and every lower-level region is assigned to a higher-level region (e.g., Northern Europe is part of Europe ). Appendix A describes in detail how the regions and countries of birth have been grouped. These groupings conform to those used in the census, with one exception: in the census, Caribbean and Bermuda is grouped within the Americas. In this report, North America was presented on its own, while the rest of the Americas stayed together. This latter region was termed Latin America solely for the sake of descriptive brevity i.e., instead of using the terms the Americas excluding North America or Central/South America and Caribbean and Bermuda. We recognize that some people from the Caribbean and Bermuda are not ethnically Latin American. Also, all references to Asia refer to Asia including the Middle East, which is the longer, standard census reference for this region. Note: The regions of birth for which data are presented here generally have the most robust data and larger sample sizes. Those that do not appear in this report have either more data-quality issues or are suppressed because of confidentiality limitations associated with small sample sizes. Labour market outcomes and earnings The concept of labour market outcomes includes wages and earnings, employment or unemployment status, participation in the labour market, hours of work, and temporary or permanent status. Earnings, for example, are considered a very important dimension for assessing labour market outcomes, and have been analysed in a number of Canadian studies. This report, however, is focused only on the labour market outcomes of unemployment, employment and participation rates. The use of the term labour market outcomes in this report refers only to these three rates, not to all labour market outcomes. A future Labour Force Survey report on immigrants in the labour force, scheduled for fall 2008, will examine the overall quality of immigrant employment, of which wages is one element. 5. Bloom, David E., Gilles Grenier and Morley Gunderson The changing labour market position of Canadian immigrants. The Canadian Journal of Economics. Vol. 28, No. 4b. p Li, Peter S Earnings disparities between immigrants and native born Canadians. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology. Vol. 37, no. 3. p Reitz, Jeffrey G Immigrant Employment Success in Canada, Part I: Individual and Contextual Causes. Journal of International Migration and Integration Vol. 8, no. 1. p Statistics Canada Catalogue no

12 Definitions and concepts used by the Labour Force Survey Immigrant type Very recent immigrants: individuals who have been landed immigrants to Canada for 5 years or less i.e., up to 60 months. In this study, it refers to those who arrived in Canada from 2001 to Recent immigrants: individuals who have been landed immigrants to Canada from 5 to 10 years i.e., 61 to 120 months. In this study, it refers to those who arrived in Canada from 1996 to Established immigrants: individuals who have been landed immigrants to Canada for more than 10 years i.e., 121 months or more. In this study, it refers to those who arrived in Canada before Others: individuals residing in Canada who were born outside of Canada and are not landed immigrants e.g., temporary foreign workers, Canadian citizens born outside Canada and those with student or working visas. Labour market outcomes Labour market outcomes: unemployment, employment and participation rates, for the purpose of this study. (See the Labour market outcomes and earnings box for more information.) Labour force: the civilian, non-institutional population aged 15 and older who were employed or unemployed during the survey reference week. Employment rate or employment/population ratio: the number of employed people expressed as a age of the population aged 15 and older. The employment rate for a particular group (e.g., by age, sex, marital status, province) is the number employed in that group expressed as a age of the population for that group. Participation rate: the total labour force expressed as a age of the population aged 15 and older. The participation rate for a particular group (e.g., women aged 25 years and older) is the labour force in that group expressed as a age of the total population for that group. Unemployment rate: the number of unemployed people expressed as a age of the labour force. The unemployment rate for a particular group (e.g., by age, sex, marital status) is the number unemployed in that group expressed as a age of the labour force for that group. Core working age Working age: age 15 years and older. Core working age: age 25 to 54 years. These individuals are more likely to have completed school and be available for full-time work and less likely to have entered retirement than those aged 15 to 24 or 55 and older. People of core working age are the primary focus of the analysis in this report. Comparability with the Census of Population When developing the immigrant questions for the Labour Force Survey (LFS), care was taken to ensure that immigrant concepts and variables arising from the questions would be comparable with those used in the Census of Population. However, since the LFS is a sample survey, the estimates are subject to more sampling variability than the census and could, therefore, differ from those published by the 2006 Census. 12 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

13 Section 2 Immigrant labour market outcomes, by region of birth This study assesses the labour force situation for immigrants at three stages: very recent immigrants; recent immigrants; and established immigrants (Table 2.1). Table 2.1 Labour market outcomes of immigrants aged 25 to 54, by period of landing, 2006 Population Unemployment rate Participation rate Employment rate thousands Canadian born 10, Very recent immigrants Recent immigrants Established immigrants 1, Signifi cantly different from the respective Canadian-born value (p<0.05). In 2006, many very recent immigrants in the core working-age group (aged 25 to 54) had experienced some difficulties in the labour market, compared with the Canadian born, regardless of their region of birth. Only those born in Southeast Asia had unemployment rates, employment rates and participation rates that were more or less on par with the Canadianborn population of core working age. In fact, immigrants born in Southeast Asia, particularly those from the Philippines, had the strongest labour market performance of all immigrants to Canada in 2006, regardless of when they landed in the country. Those born elsewhere in Asia from any period of landing had either higher or similar unemployment rates, and lower or similar employment rates in 2006 compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. Working-age immigrants born in Europe and Latin America had 2006 labour market outcomes that were similar to those of the Canadian born, but this was the case mainly for those who arrived prior to Immigrants born in Africa struggled, regardless of when they arrived. The estimated 70,000 very recent African-born immigrants had an unemployment rate of 20.8%, more than four times higher than that of their Canadian-born counterparts. For detailed results by region or country of birth, please refer to the tables found in Appendix B. Immigrants born in Asia (including the Middle East) Those born in Southeast Asia had the strongest outcomes for all periods of landing In 2006, regardless of period of landing, Asian-born immigrants were the largest group of immigrants settled in Canada. Many of these immigrants were born in the People s Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Iran or Pakistan. The 2006 unemployment rate for very recent Asian-born immigrants was more than double that of their Canadian-born counterparts, and their employment rate was much lower (Table 2.2). With the exception of Southeast Asia, this pattern was true for all other regions within Asia those born in West Central Asia and the Middle East (including Iran), in Eastern Asia (including China) and in Southern Asia (including India and Pakistan). Those born in Pakistan had among the lowest participation and employment rates of all regions of birth. While doing slightly better than Asian-born very recent immigrants, the unemployment rate of recent immigrants aged 25 to 54 born in Asia, was higher than that of the Canadian born, whereas the employment rate was lower (Table 2.2). Again with the exception of those born in Southeast Asia, recent immigrants from most other Asian regions of birth had difficulty in the Canadian labour market. Statistics Canada Catalogue no

14 Results were improved for the Asian-born established immigrants of core working age. As a whole, their unemployment rate was comparable with their Canadian-born counterparts (Table 2.2). However, their employment rate was still slightly lower than that of the Canadian born. There were some notable exceptions to this pattern. Within Asia, those born in China, Hong Kong and India had unemployment and employment rates that were not much different than their Canadian-born peers. Of all regions of birth, immigrants of core working age who were born in Southeast Asia had the labour market outcomes that matched or bettered those of the Canadian born for all three periods of landing. Men and women born in the Philippines had particularly noteworthy results; in fact, Filipino-born established immigrants had a 2006 unemployment rate that was lower than and an employment rate that was higher than their Canadian-born peers (Table 2.2). Immigrants regions and countries of birth have shifted over the past few decades In 2006, of the estimated 583,000 very recent immigrants of core working age in Canada, over half were born in Asia, mainly in Southern and Eastern Asia. Of those born in Europe, many were born in Eastern Europe. About 70,000 very recent immigrants were born in Africa, particularly North Africa. Of those born in Latin America, half were born in South America. For recent immigrants of core working age, the distribution by region of birth was quite similar to that of very recent immigrants (Chart 2.1). While the regional profiles of very recent and recent immigrants of core working age were fairly similar, the birthplaces of established immigrants were different (Chart 2.1). As of 2006, many established immigrants of core working age were born in Asia, but a much lower proportion than most recent immigrants (40% versus 57%). The proportion of European born was high, but many were born in Southern or Northern Europe as opposed to the more recent pattern of Eastern Europeans. Many of the 15% of established immigrants born in Latin America were born in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Just 6% of established immigrants of core working age were born in Africa, many of whom were born in Eastern Africa. Chart 2.1 Immigrant population aged 25 to 54, by region of birth and landing period, 2006 age North America Latin America Europe Africa Asia Oceania Very recent Recent Established The most common countries of birth for both very recent and recent immigrants of core working age were the People s Republic of China, India, Philippines and Pakistan. In 2006, the most common countries of birth for established immigrants of core working age were the United Kingdom, India, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines and Portugal. 14 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

15 Table 2.2 Labour market outcomes of immigrants aged 25 to 54 born in Asia (including Middle East), by period of landing, 2006 Population Unemployment rate Participation rate Employment rate thousands Canadian born 10, Very recent immigrants West Central Asia and Middle East Iran E, Eastern Asia China (People s Republic of) Southeast Asia E Philippines E Southern Asia India Pakistan E, Recent immigrants West Central Asia and Middle East E Eastern Asia China (People s Republic of) Southeast Asia E Southern Asia India E Pakistan E Established immigrants West Central Asia and Middle East Eastern Asia China (People s Republic of) E Hong Kong E Southeast Asia Philippines E, Vietnam Southern Asia India E use with caution: coeffi cient of variation (CV) between 16.5% and 33.3% 1. Signifi cantly different from the respective Canadian-born value (p<0.05). Immigrants born in Europe Compared with most other immigrants, those born in Europe were doing fairly well in the labour market Despite representing a declining proportion of immigrants of core working age (Chart 2.1), those born in Europe still represented the second-largest source region of all immigrants as of Overall, many European immigrants to Canada were born in the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Portugal or Romania, although a shift from Northern and Southern European countries to more Eastern European countries has taken place over the past two decades. As with most other regions, the very recent immigrants born in Europe had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates than the Canadian born (Table 2.3). While the unemployment rate for these immigrants was 1.7 times higher than the Canadian born, it was the lowest among all regions of birth for very recent immigrants. European born recent immigrants of core working age had better labour market outcomes than many of their very recent counterparts. Specifically, their unemployment rates and employment rates were not much different from the Canadian born (Table 2.3). Established immigrants born in Europe of core working age accounted for 33% of all established immigrants. Those born in Europe had an unemployment rate that was actually lower than that of the Canadian born (Table 2.3). Within this region, unemployment rates were below that of the Canadian born for those born in the United Kingdom and Portugal. Established immigrants born in the United Kingdom also enjoyed participation rates that were higher than their Canadianborn counterparts. Statistics Canada Catalogue no

16 Table 2.3 Labour market outcomes of immigrants aged 25 to 54 born in Europe, by period of landing, 2006 Population Unemployment rate Participation rate Employment rate thousands Canadian born 10, Very recent immigrants Eastern Europe Recent immigrants E Southern Europe E Established immigrants Western Europe Eastern Europe E Poland E Northern Europe United Kingdom Southern Europe Italy E Portugal E, E use with caution: coeffi cient of variation (CV) between 16.5% and 33.3% 1. Signifi cantly different from the respective Canadian-born value (p<0.05). Immigrants born in Latin America Labour market outcomes for recent and established immigrants from Latin America were comparable with those of Canadian born Although their share has declined in recent years, immigrants born in Latin America still represented about 1 in 8 immigrants of core working age. The most common countries of birth for these immigrants include Jamaica, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico and Guyana. In 2006, as with almost all other regions, very recent immigrants of core working age born in Latin America had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates than the Canadian born (Table 2.4). More specifically, their unemployment rate was 2.1 times higher than their Canadian-born counterparts. For both the recent and established immigrants, unemployment and employment rates were close to those of the Canadian born (Table 2.4). Immigrants born in Latin America accounted for 15% of all established immigrants of core working age in Within this region, there was one result worth noting: participation rates among established immigrants born in the Caribbean and Bermuda (and more specifically, Jamaica) were above that of their Canadian-born peers. Table 2.4 Labour market outcomes of immigrants aged 25 to 54 born in Latin America, by period of landing, 2006 Population Unemployment rate Participation rate Employment rate thousands Canadian born 10, Very recent immigrants Caribbean and Bermuda E, South America E, Recent immigrants E Established immigrants Central America E Caribbean and Bermuda Jamaica E South America E E use with caution: coeffi cient of variation (CV) between 16.5% and 33.3% 1. Signifi cantly different from the respective Canadian-born value (p<0.05). 16 Statistics Canada Catalogue no

17 Immigrants born in Africa High unemployment rates for African-born immigrants in all periods of landing In 2006, 12% of very recent immigrants of core working age were born in Africa this is double the proportion of Africanborn established immigrants. Some of the more common countries of birth include Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa. For immigrants of core working age who were born in Africa, they had higher unemployment rates and lower employment rates compared with the Canadian born and with some other regions of birth, no matter what period they had landed. For example, the estimated 70,000 African-born very recent immigrants had an unemployment rate that was more than four times higher than that of their Canadian-born counterparts (Table 2.5). They also posted lower employment rates. The story was not any better when looking at the regions within Africa both those born in eastern Africa and northern Africa had unemployment rates that were over four times higher than that of their Canadian-born peers. Table 2.5 Labour market outcomes of immigrants aged 25 to 54 born in Africa, by period of landing, 2006 Population Unemployment rate Participation rate Employment rate thousands Canadian born 10, Very recent immigrants Eastern Africa E, Northern Africa Recent immigrants E, Northern Africa E, Established immigrants Eastern Africa E Northern Africa E E use with caution: coeffi cient of variation (CV) between 16.5% and 33.3% 1. Signifi cantly different from the respective Canadian-born value (p<0.05). According to a recent Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) publication, just over 20% of all very recent immigrants who come from, but were not necessarily born in, Africa, the Middle East and South America came to Canada as refugees. This compares with 9% of Asia Pacific immigrants and 8% of those from Europe and the United Kingdom. 1 As documented in the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC), refugees face a number of difficulties in the labour market compared with immigrants from other immigrant categories, such as lower employment rates and more language difficulties. 2 None have gone through the selection criteria process that economic-class applicants go through, though this does not necessarily mean that their level of qualifications are any different. Also, they do not often have strong family ties in Canada that family-class applicants have. As well, they are less likely to have been prepared for the move to Canada as skilled immigrants are e.g., they may not have all their belongings, including credentials. Larger proportions of refugees may explain some differences in labour market outcomes, particularly for very recent immigrants from Africa and South America. 1. Citizenship and Immigration Canada Facts and Figures 2006: Immigration Overview. Ottawa, Ontario. p Chui, Tina and Kelly Tran Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada: Progress and Challenges of New Immigrants in the Workforce. Statistics Canada Catalogue no XIE. Ottawa. (accessed January 22, 2008). Statistics Canada Catalogue no

18 Immigration categories Economic immigrants: permanent residents selected for their skills and ability to contribute to Canada s economy. This category includes skilled workers, business immigrants, provincial or territorial nominees and live-in caregivers. Family class: permanent residents sponsored by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident living in Canada who is 18 years of age or older. This category includes spouses and partners (i.e., spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner); parents and grandparents; and others (i.e., dependent children, children under the age of 18 whom the sponsor intends to adopt in Canada, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren who are orphans under 18 years of age, or any other relative if the sponsor has no relative as described above, either abroad or in Canada). Fiancé(e)s are no longer designated as a component of the family class under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Refugee claimants: temporary residents in the humanitarian-population category who request refugee protection upon or after arrival in Canada. A refugee claimant receives Canada s protection when he or she is found to be a Convention refugee, as defined by the United Nations 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, or when found to be a person needing protection based on risk to life, risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment, or danger of torture as defined in the Convention Against Torture. A refugee claimant whose claim is accepted may make an application in Canada for permanent residence. The applicant may include family members in Canada and abroad. Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2007, Facts and Figures 2006: Immigration Overview, Ottawa, Ontario, p Statistics Canada Catalogue no

19 Section 3 Immigrant labour market outcomes by region of birth and sex Immigrant men Labour market outcomes for immigrant men, particularly those born in Europe, approached or bettered that of the Canadian born based on time since landing The 2006 unemployment rate of very recent immigrant men was almost double that of Canadian-born men, and their participation and employment rates were lower (Table 3.1). For both recent and established immigrant men, their labour market outcomes were no different from that of the Canadian born. While in general, recent and established male immigrants were doing well in the Canadian labour market, their outcomes varied based on place of birth. Male immigrants born in some regions had stronger results than others. Specifically, those born in Europe and Southern Asia had particularly strong outcomes, while those born in Africa did not. European-born men of core working age, no matter which period they landed in Canada, had labour market outcomes that were either similar to or better than that of Canadian-born men. More specifically, European-born very recent immigrant men had labour market outcomes that were no different from the Canadian born; both recent and established immigrant men had participation and employment rates that were better than that of their Canadian-born counterparts (Table 3.1). Chart 3.1 Unemployment rate for male immigrants aged 25 to 54, by period of landing, 2006 age All immigrants Latin America¹ Europe¹ Africa Asia Very recent Recent Established Canadian born 1. Data for recent immigrants suppressed because of coefficient of variation (CV) >33.3% and/or very small estimates. A similar story for labour market outcomes was evident for immigrant men born in Southern Asia. In 2006, very recent, recent and established immigrant men of core working age born in Southern Asia had unemployment, participation and employment rates that were comparable with or better than Canadian-born men (Table 3.1). African-born men who were very recent immigrants had the highest unemployment rate of all regions of birth at nearly four times higher than Canadian-born men (Table 3.1). While recent immigrant men born in Africa had a participation rate in 2006 that was similar to Canadian-born men, they had an unemployment rate that was twice as high. Established immigrant men born in Africa had a 2006 employment rate that was not as strong as Canadian-born men and their unemployment rate was just 1.4 times higher than that of the Canadian born, which was much better than that of more recent immigrant men born in Africa. Statistics Canada Catalogue no

20 Table 3.1 Labour market outcomes of male immigrants aged 25 to 54 in Canada from selected regions of birth, by period of landing, 2006 Unemployment rate Participation rate Employment rate Canadian born Very recent immigrants Latin America 8.7 E Europe 6.5 E Africa Asia West Central Asia and Middle East 16.1 E, Eastern Asia 10.6 E, Southeast Asia F Southern Asia 7.2 E Recent immigrants Latin America F Europe F Africa 12.0 E, Asia West Central Asia and Middle East F Eastern Asia 6.4 E Southeast Asia F Southern Asia 5.0 E Established immigrants Latin America Europe Africa 7.4 E Asia West Central Asia and Middle East 6.8 E Eastern Asia 4.7 E Southeast Asia 4.6 E Southern Asia 5.0 E E use with caution: coeffi cient of variation (CV) between 16.5% and 33.3% F too unreliable to be published because of CV>33.3% and/or very small estimates 1. Signifi cantly different from the respective Canadian-born value (p<0.05). Immigrant women Unemployment rates were high for immigrant women, particularly for those born in Asia and Africa, regardless of period of landing Unemployment was higher for almost all immigrant women than for Canadian-born women, regardless of where they were born and when they landed in Canada. The issue was particularly pronounced for the very recent arrivals. In 2006, the unemployment rate for very recent immigrant women was 2.8 times higher than that of Canadian-born women, and their participation and employment rates were significantly lower than their Canadian-born counterparts (Table 3.2). Labour market outcomes were slightly better for recent immigrant women, but not by much the unemployment rate was still double that of women born in Canada and the participation and employment rates were still lower than their Canadianborn counterparts. The unemployment rate for established immigrant women was still higher than that of the Canadian born (1.2 times higher). European-born very recent immigrant women had an unemployment rate that was 2.3 times higher than the Canadian born, the lowest of all regions of birth for that period of landing. The largest differential was for African-born very recent immigrant women, with an unemployment rate 4.8 times higher than their Canadian-born counterparts (Chart 3.2). Only women born in Europe or Southeast Asia who were established immigrants had unemployment rates that were comparable with that of Canadian-born women. 20 Statistics Canada Catalogue no